Multiple member animated figure device



Nov. 11, 1952 J, A. SIMPSON MULTIPLE MEMBER ANIMATED FIGURE DEVICE 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed May 27, 1949 I II Veutar Joseph A Simpson Nov. 11, 1952 J. A. SIMPSON 2,617,232

MULTIPLE MEMBER ANIMATED FIGURE DEVICE Filed May 27, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Inventor Joseph A. Simpson Patented Nov. 11, 1952 MULTIPLE MEMBER ANIMATED FIGURE DEVICE Joseph A. Simpson, New York, N.

Maria Hearst, New York,

fifty per cent to N.

Y., assignor of Application May 27, 1949, Serial No. 95,833

2 Claims.

This invention relates generally to animated devices such as are used for advertising and entertainment purposes, and more particularly to a device in which at least three figures can be motivated in a device adapted to be constructed from sheet material.

A primary object of this invention is to provide a device which is particularly well suited for use by advertisers, the device including figures which may be animated in a distinctive and attractive manner.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of this character in which a plurality of figure members may be motivated to travel in difierent directions at the same time, and in which the motion of the figures can be made extremely suggestive of actual human or animal movements.

I Another very important object of this invention, intimately related to the preceding objects, is to provide a device of this character in which a minimum number of moving parts is required to produce the desired effect, and in which the character of the different elements is uniformly simple and easy to manufacture, and, finally, in which th different parts are easily assembled without auxiliary means to achieve alignment and registration.

A last object to be mentioned specifically is to provide a device of this character which is very simple to operate and which will give durable service without unduly great initial cost.

With these objects definitely in view, together with other objects Which will appear hereinafter as this description proceeds, this invention resides in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of elements and portions as will be set forth in the following specification and of which a preferred embodiment is represented in thedrawings forming a part of this disclosure, in which drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the assembled device;

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view with the moving parts shown in elevation;

Figure 3 is a view, similar to Figure 2, but showing the arrangement of the figure members, central member and related parts in the positions assumed thereby when the actuating cord is released;

Figure 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view, taken substantially upon the line 4-4 in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a view, vertical sectional in char- .the central member 28.

acter, of a slightly modified form of this invention, in which the figure members are pivotally secured to the central member by flexible tape, and the channels in the figure members are shown as having different configuration;

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view of another modified form of this invention, thought to be generically similar to the other forms, the pivotal connections of the figure members being sumciently loose to constitute structure analogous to the slots and pins in the other embodiments of this invention; and

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional View of the embodiment of this invention shown in Figure 6, the figure being taken substantially upon the line 'l'! in Figure 6.

Similar characters of reference designate similar or identical elements and portions throughout the specification and throughout the difierent views in the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, this device includes a front panel [0 and a rear panel l2 and in the embodiment represented in Figures 1-5, these panels are each provided with extending portions M. A pair of guide plates I 6 are secured to and between the panels In and [2, with a space I8 defined therebetween, and these guide plates comprise spacers and attachment means for the panels as well as defining lateral limits to a space preserved between the panels l0 and I2. The guide plates are reduced so that the space therebetween is increased as indicated at 20 in the embodiment represented in Figures 1-4, to allow divergence of figure members 24 during the operation of the device.

The figure members 24 will ordinarily each be provided with shank portions 26. A central member 28, which, like the figure members 24 and shank portions 26, is of a thickness not greater than the thickness of the guide plates I6, is slidably mounted centrally of the space designated at l8 and 20 and will extend into the space between the extending portions I4 of the panels In and I2, and it may be noted in the preferred embodiment of this invention that spacers 22 may be secured to and between the extending portions [4, in a manner similar to the manner in which the guide plates [5 are secured.

The central member 28 is biased in one direction by a resilient and elastic member 30 which is stapled or otherwise secured to one of the panels In or l2, as indicated at 32, and similarly secured, as indicated at 34, to the inner end of In this connection, it

may be noted that the outer end of the central member 28 may also comprise a figure as indicated at 36, it being a feature of this invention that three figures can be motivated simultaneously and in different direction in an attractive manner.

The rear panel I2 will be apertured and fitted with a grommet 38, or the like, and a flexible cord 40 will be terminally secured, as at 42, on an intermediate portion of the central member 28, the other end of the cord 40 being disposed to the rear of the device, and intermediate portions of the cord will extend through a slot 43 provided in the central member and extending. longitudinally thereof, so that the said intermediate portion of the cord will frictionally engage the central member at the sides of the slot and guide the central member. In this connection, it should be carefully noted that in other embodiments of the invention, the members l4 and 22 may not be used, and the central member will depend for guidance upon the cord 40, and the pivotal connection between the figure members 24 and the central member 28 comprises, in the preferred embodiment, recesses 44 in the adjacent inner end ortions of the figure members shank portions 26, and laterally extending enlargements 45 on the inner end of the central member 28. It is preferred that the recesses 44 and the enlargements 45 be similarly curved as indicated in the drawings, and it will, of course, be understood that the guideplates l6 will cooperate with the said pivotal connection to retain the elements concerned in proper relationship within the space l8, the enlargements 45 fit-' ting frictionally within the recesses 44, andv further cooperating structure includes the elongated channels 46 in the figure members and the pins 41 which are fixed to at least one of the panels l and I2 and extend through the channels 46, it being understood that the pins 41 will guide intermediate portions of the shanks 26 of the figure members when pulled.

It will be' noted that the channels 46 are represented as being non-linear, and the diverging and converging motion of the figures 24, with relation to the figure 36' or any other central portion of an embodiment of this invention, will be largely determined by the exact nature ofthe channels 46.

In the embodiment of thisinvention illustrated in Figure 5, the channels 48 are simple curves and it is believed that many types of devices-may employ such simple In this embodiment of the invention, noted that theinner ends or the members. it will also be central member 50 and V pivotally secured together by flexible tape 54' which may be adhesively secured to the said inner ends, and which may be notched,.asindicated at 56,. to facilitate bending. ofthe" tape atthe actuating cord 40' is curves, especially when a startling or pecking actionis" desired in the figure the figure members-52 arefront panel 60:

and a central member 66 is ible adhesive tape 1'0, as illustrated in the other embodiment in Figure 5. It will be noted, however, that the central member is represented as not having a figure corresponding to the figure 36 in the other embodiments, but it should also be carefully noted that a slot 12 is provided in the central member to accommodate an intermediate portion of the actuating cord 40 in a manner similar to the manner in which the slot 43 accommodates the cord 40 in the other embodiments. It may also be noted that the extending portions [4 represented in the other embodiments need not be employed in the embodiment represented in Figures 6 and '7. However, the greatest difference in this last-mentioned embodiment is concerned with the method of pivotally securing the figure members by a loose rivet member 14, or analogous device, instead of by the pin 41. An examination of Figures 6 and '7 will indicate how a rivet member 14 provides a rather loose connection between the figure members and at least one of the panels 69 and 62. The looseness of the rivet is important, since the action is essentially that of providing a very short slot such as that provided at 46 in the other embodiments of the invention, to allow proper movement of the figure members and the central member when the actuating cord 40 is pulled, as in the other embodiments.

The operation of this invention will be clearly understood from a consideration of the drawings, and the above recited objects and the mechanical details of the invention set forth above. Further description would appear to be unnecessary.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. An animated device comprising a pair of panels secured together and having a space therebetween, a central member slidably mounted in said space, means to bias said member in one direction, means to move the central member in the opposite direction, a pair of figure members slidably mounted in said space and pivotally connected to said central member, and means engaging intermediate portions of the figure members to guide the movement of the figure members when the central member is moved, the pivotal connection of said figure members with the central member including recess portions in said figure membersinterlocking frictionally with enlarged portions of complemental shape on said central member, and lateral guide plates comprising spacers and attachment means for and between said panels.

2. An animated device comprising a pair of panels secured together, and having a space therebetween, a central member slidably mounted in said space, biasingv means resiliently biasing said central member in one direction, a longitudinally extending linear slot in said central member, one of said panels having an aperture communicating with said slot, a flexible member secured to said central member at one end of said slot, said flexible member extending longitudinally of said slot and through said aperture, the sides ofsaid slot engaging said flexible member for guiding said central member, said flexible member being operable to move the control member against said biasing means, a pair of figure members slidable in said space, laterally extending enlargements on the inner end or said central member, the adjacent inner end portions of the figure members having recesses receiving said enlargements, the cooperating surface of said enlargement and said recesses being similarly curved, and guide plates retaining said members file of this patent: 1O

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Powers June 23, 1874 Hoffman et a1 Jan. 29, 1884 Allen Oct. 31, 1905 Sherman Feb. 2, 1926 Ralston Jan. 16, 1945 Simpson Dec. 19, 1950 

